Bait station and timing. UPDATE: 09-24, Final Update

[h20hunter]

Apple flavored is the best. I'll be curious to see it over the next few weeks. I've got it set over to video mode with 30 second captures. If Mr. Coyote wont leave it alone he is going to be in for a 55 grain surprise.

[h20hunter]

So I can't stay away from the cam. I just have to know what is there on an ongoing basis. Good thing I went out because something kicked the hell out of my cam. The only thing I had on it was a quick blur, then ground. Good news is only the strap was broke and the chipmunks on the ground seemed determined to use up battery life by making sure the cam got tons of video of them. I didn't see the culprit but when you see the poo I don't think you will have any doubts about what has been feating on cob. Another thing about cob, when it gets wet, being grain, I think it doesn't take to long to ferment. Not only am I going to have apple flavored deer but since they all should be drunk it should be a slam dunk. I did get some deer action but nothing really new. I cut some bushes and worked on my shooting area a little bit. Chopped some blackberries and did a little game trail maintence.

[h20hunter]

And this pile of recycled cob.

[h20hunter]

One more, recycled apple.

[oldleclercrd]

Looks like its time for some predetor hunting!

[h20hunter]

Yes it is. I plan to give it a another week or so and then after my hike in to just sit up on a hill a bit off the pile and wait for the yote. I'm sure he is still around. Even if no apples there are plenty of birds and chipmunks that have made the bait pile home.

[Tom Reichner]

I can probably carry 30 pounds of apples in pretty easily, maybe even make two trips to really load it up. What about using a sled to haul a load in....hmmm.

30 pounds is good if you can replenish the area with another 30 pounds every other day.  100 pounds a week is minimal if you want to keep deer using the area on a consistent basis.  If you bring 30 pounds in every other day for a month, you should establish some consistent deer use, provided no bears are in the area.

100 pounds twice a week would be much better.

[h20hunter]

Yeah, that would be better but with no orchards close like in Omak I'm having to settle for 80 or so pounds every other week on average. I've got deer coming in for the cracked corn and cob when the apples are depleted. Before I hunt I plan to load it up. So far so good though.

[blacktailcrzy]

where can i get apples like you guy and not have them brake the bank?

[h20hunter]

Blacktail crazy:

I have a market close to where I work. They quality is probably a step down from your local grocer and the market is...shall we say...a bit lower key. I buy them by the case a few here and there and pay cash. For example, the grocer at my local store will sell me a case on sale for 89 cents a pound, so about $37. A case runs anywhere from 40 to 45 lbs. I can get my local market guy to go as low as $21.50 a case.

[blacktailcrzy]

ok are you paying less because the market has taken them off the shelf for sale or just because they do have as much over head as the big box stores

[h20hunter]

I think I'm paying less for a few reasons. One, cash and the ethnicity of the maket owner lends to a more agreeable outcome when dickering over price. I also think that these are a step down in "grade" from your typical Safeway type grocery store. The overhead of the market has to be much less than a box store. Picking up two cases tomorrow and heading out to the site this weekend to do some watching  for the apple stealing coyote.

[h20hunter]

Just when you think you have your bait site all figured out things change up. So, after the bear knocked the cam down I brainstormed and figured a better way to mount it. I basically nailed a small round to the stump it was sitting on. The job went well and I was jazzed. I made a couple of trips in and dumped a good amount of feed. That was last weekend. This weekend was nice so off I go to further explore, add food, trim brush, maybe shoot a coyote, and generally screw around in the wood. I get out and cam is set and nicely not messed with. Hmmm, lots of bear poo I didn't notice last time. Hmmm, two cases of apples gone in a week...hmmm. I'm still excitied because I like pics of bears but would still prefer pics of deer. This is a ongoing thread in Deer is it not. So....I check the cam. NOTHING! Only one fuzzy ear.  Cam was two high and tilted. Only trees and one bird. Adjust cam, sit on hill, watch, not coyote, head home.

Not to be outdone and with one more case of apples I head back out yesterday morning. I get about about 2/3 thew way there, take care of some business, and begin to make my way. That is when I hear the tell tale rustling in the brush. Hmmm, jack a round in the AR (for apple stealing yotes) and continue. After on a few steps the linebacker charging up the hill above me appears to be spooked. Sounded like a lot of commotion. A few less apples and only a couple of pics on the cam. More poop. When I made it home later there was one pic of the back end of the little black bear facing the same direction I was coming from. My guess is that he heard me from a ways off and was interupted by the sound while having his morning apples. He decided to bug out. Problem is the path is the same one I was on. He probably came down a little bit, heard me rack a round, and decided to bail and run up the hill. Kind of fun.

So, cam is positioned better, two cases of apples out, fermenting cracked corn and cob mixture still getting fed on. Just more bear activity than deer at the moment.

Oh yeah, why they "Crappy" part of the update. Bear crap EVERYWHERE!!!

Have a good week and stay tuned for more bait cam fun. Hell, at least it hasn't been stolen.

[iRem]

Have a good week and stay tuned for more bait cam fun. Hell, at least it hasn't been stolen.

Keep the pics coming!! I haven't had a chance to pick up another camera, but I will soon. I might just search out a different GMU?

[fish vacuum]

After years of playing with trail cameras, I bought a nice one with a bear-proof cage that bolts to the tree. The only problem bears have caused this one was when a bear licked the camera and caused the pictures after that to be all blurry from saliva on the lens.
I've also never been able to establish a good pattern with blacktails. And I won't pack in anything heavy. It's an hour walk in. About a quart of a liquid deer attractor and a mineral lick work fine. More bait might help develop a pattern but I'm hunting, not raising stock.